News -32 attacks by Putin yesterday. Fewer, but includes 152 mm ammo. And 120 mm mortars. Both banned.Update - one soldier injured - mine.. Weather -Snow on the ground as I wake up at 0800. Late this morning.But it is melting. Roads just about clear. Maybe 2cm fell. Forecast for +5. +1 now. Update - snow all melted. +5. Cloudy.

Last edited by Nelson on Sun Mar 20, 2016 8:27 am; edited 2 times in total

http://www.unian.info/economics/1294747-with-or-without-yatsenyuk-what-painful-reforms-will-cabinet-implement.htmlPolitical crisis is raging in Ukraine. At stake is the fate of the government, which allegedly failed to meet expectations. UNIAN tries to figure out what reforms have worked, and what still needs to be changed in a number of economy sectors that directly affect the well-being of ordinary Ukrainians....Another scenario of getting out of the budget crisis would be the start of a pension reform, which is stuck in a conflict between the Cabinet and the MPs. There are nearly 12.5 million pensioners in Ukraine while there are 10 million payers of a single social contribution (SSC). That is, there is more than one pensioner per each working citizen....===Quite a long article. Translation so-so. But not bad. Conclusion - Anyone who stands at the helm of the executive power will succumb to the criticism, because he [she] will have to make unpopular decisions. And without such decisions, the Ukrainian economic system will remain futile, which will jeopardize the independence of the state.

Anyone who stands at the helm of the executive power will succumb to the criticism, because he [she] will have to make unpopular decisions. And without such decisions, the Ukrainian economic system will remain futile, which will jeopardize the independence of the state.

I thought the unpopular (but necessary) decisions had already been made. The problem is no one has the gonads required to PASS the decisions into law. Of course, the screeching minx, Ukraine's wannabe president, and her ex-POR friends will not support what it takes to move forward.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/03/20/7102700/Headquarters: One soldier hit a stretch, beating the terrorists at AvdeevkiSunday, March 20, 2016, 12:53Over the past day in the area ATO due to stretching undermine one soldier was wounded.This at a briefing March 20 AP spokesman for the ATO Alexander Motuzyanyk.According to him, undermining soldier occurred in Bahmutskiy area."The tense situation continued to Donetsk direction: provocation occurred across the front line - the area Svetlodarsk arc to Krasnogorivka" - said Motuzyanyk.According to the headquarters, the enemy is actively used mortars, grenade launchers and small arms, most of the attacks falls on the night-time."The hottest was near Avdeevka, enemy shelling began in the morning and continued intermittently until late. Around midnight gang opened fire with artillery firing on positions of power in the area ATO 6 min 152 mm caliber" - said Motuzyanyk.In the direction of Lugansk opponent regime broke the silence once - in the Trohizbenky sniper attacks led forces ATO position.In Mariupol direction the first time in a long time was quiet from enemy attacks.====ATO map also at this link.

http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2016/03/20/7102685/In Ukraine, opened the first monument to soldiers ATOSunday, March 20, 2016, 6:16On Saturday in Krivoy Rog opened the first in Ukraine monument to Ukrainian soldiers who died during the fighting in Donbas.It is reported by "Radio Liberty".The opening ceremony was attended by residents, involved in the fighting with the families, the authorities.The initiative of the monument to the soldiers in the city were demobilized soldiers, relatives of dead soldiers, volunteers.According to the creator of the monument, the monument became the prototype of a real person - minometnyk- "Cyborg" Yevgeny Abrosimov, who participated in protecting the Donetsk airport.Sculpture "cyborg" is placed between two symbolic airplane wings, symbolizing the tragedy of IL-76, shot down by armed separatists in Lugansk in June 2014. It killed 49 Ukrainian military, including Kryvyi Rih and Dnepropetrovsk. At the monument engraved with the names of fellow countrymen who were killed during a military operation in eastern Ukraine. Krivoy Rog in the fighting in Donbas lose a hundred soldiers.

http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21695060-minsk-peace-deal-going-nowhere-bite-bullet...This week Victoria Nuland, the American under secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, warned in the Senate that the political chaos in Kiev creates a “doubt in Europe about whether continued support for Ukraine is warranted”. Such uncertainty gives Moscow hope that the EU will lift its sanctions when they come up for renewal this year.Politicians in Kiev note that the Minsk deal enjoys little public support. Mr Poroshenko is said to be considering a referendum on a special status for the Donbas; a no vote could be cited as a break with Minsk, while a yes vote may provide cover for divisive measures. ...

http://europe.newsweek.com/russia-putin-crimea-bridge-putins-money-ukraine-war-arkady-rotenberg-438564?rm=eu...The bridge is being built by a company owned by Arkady Rotenberg, Putin's judo partner.... Anti-corruption campaigners have also criticized the Russian government's decision to award the construction contract to Rotenberg's Stroygazmontazh, a company which specializes in gas pipelines and has never built a bridge."The annexation of Crimea was an obvious mistake, which the Kremlin and the majority of Russian people will not recognize for a long time. But we continue to pay for it," Russian business daily Vedomosti wrote in an editorial on Friday....

Based on the information above, it can be concluded that on July 17, 2014 a Buk missile launcher, originating from the 53rd Brigade near Kursk, Russia, travelled from Donetsk to Snizhne. It was then unloaded and drove under its own power to a field south of Snizhne, where at approximately 4:20 pm it launched a surface-to-air missile that hit Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it flew over Ukraine. On the morning of July 18, the Buk missile launcher was driven from Luhansk, Ukraine, across the border to Russia.

Alternative scenarios presented by the Russian Ministry of Defense and Almaz-Antey are at best deeply flawed, and at worst show a deliberate attempt to mislead using fabricated evidence.

http://telegraf.com.ua/mir/europa/2360377-v-niderlandah-proveli-opros-po-povodu-assotsiatsii-ukraina-es.htmlAccording to the survey data, the number of opponents and supporters of the association is almost equal, a difference of 1 percent.According to the poll, 35% of the Dutch are willing to vote for the agreement on the EU-Ukraine Association, 36% - against.This is indicated by the results of a study conducted by Direct Research, reported on its website the Dutch D66 party, which initiated in the Netherlands a campaign in support of the Agreement."Previously, the camp of the agreement far behind, now the campaign is almost on a par", - said the deputy from the D66 Case Verhoeven....

14:36Serbia once again refused to sanctions against Russia (Express)http://expres.ua/news/2016/03/20/178502-serbiya-chergovyy-raz-vidmovylasya-sankciy-proty-rfSerbia once again refused to sanctions against Russia 20.03.2016 14:29 Serbia will never join the sanctions against Russia. This was stated by the Permanent Mission to the UN of the country, reports TSN. "The president, prime minister and foreign minister of Serbia often repeated that Serbia will never join the sanctions against Russia. Our position has not changed", - said the first adviser representative Ana Ilic. So diplomat commented on the appeal of the EU to prevent the imposition of sanctions on Moscow in the second anniversary of the annexation of the Crimea of ​​Russia. ...===Serbia = scumballs

http://zn.ua/POLITICS/kiev-yuzhnaya-rus-a-nestor-russkiy-letopisec-chemu-uchat-uchebniki-dlya-shestiklassnikov-v-rf-207796_.htmlKiev - "South Russia", - "Russian historian": what is taught in the textbooks for sixth graders at 15:40 in textbooks on Russian history of the Russian Federation on March 20 for Grade 6 Ukraine is considered as Russian territory. Russians are taught from childhood that the Ukraine - Russian territory Russian Federation considers the territory of the modern Ukrainian state as a historic Russian lands and forms such views are Russian citizens since childhood, and the main source of views on the Ukrainian land is an ordinary school textbook of history. ...===Start them young. Complete brainwashing of the Russian youth by Putin's servants. Reminds one very much of the Hitler youth. The problem is that young kids at school will believe what they are taught. At that age they rarely have the critical faculties to question what they read. That tends to happen later when you get to university. But most Russians will not get that far in their "education". Pure and simple - brainwashing the young with completely false information.

March 18, Canada announced new sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine, the grab of Crimea and Moscow’s unwillingness to implement the Minsk agreements. The sanctions relate to individuals, companies and banks.

“Canada’s new government had a chance to overcome the dead-end in our relations it inherited from the past regime. Unfortunately, Ottawa failed to do this. This will be taken into consideration by Russia,” runs a commentary on the Russia foreign ministry website, Hyser reports March 19.

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt condemned the attacks on the LGBT community by right-wing groups during Equality Festival in Lviv.Censor.NET reports citing Pyatt's Twitter.

"Bad news that Lviv Equality Festival was unable to proceed due to violent counter protests. Displays of intolerance in Lviv at odds with the European future so many Ukrainians have sacrificed for," he wrote.

http://en.censor.net.ua/photo_news/380055/today_is_a_holiday_dont_spoil_it_for_people_if_you_dont_want_problems_bryansk_resident_was_asked_toA resident of the Russian town of Bryansk Andrey Mahanenkov asks General Prosecutor's Office and the ombudsman to clarify whether or not Ukrainian flag on a balcony violates Russian laws.Andrey Mahanenkov sent a letter to Russian Prosecutor General's Office, the prosecutor of Bryansk and the ombudsman of the Russian Federation asking to clarify the following:- Is it against the law to hang out Ukrainian national flag, and / or a flag of any other country with which the Russian Federation has diplomatic relations, on the balcony of your own apartment? Is this an act of extremism? If so, which law forbids doing it?- Is the police request to remove Ukrainian national flag from the balcony of a private apartment legitimate? ....===Only in Russia. You won't find this story in The Guardian from Shaun Walker, that's for sure. Editor Shameus Milne, Corbyn sidekick, is way too busy kissing Putin's butt.

http://en.censor.net.ua/news/380062/yatseniuks_team_is_ready_to_support_yaresko_lozhkin,,,"As I understand, Yatseniuk's team is ready to support Yaresko. It is not a question of People's Front, but a question of consensus of at least three parliamentary factions," he said."However, we have not expressed final support neither to Yaresko, nor to someone else," he noted. "I don't know about any final agreement on someone else's candidacy," Lozhkin added....===Interesting, if true. Can a new coalition be formed? Or will they plod on as best they can?

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) together with the police apprehended an informant of the ‘DPR’ when he was attempting to illegally cross the demarcation line in Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.Censor.NET reports citing the SBU press center.

According to the report, the militants have recruited Yasynuvata resident in March 2016 to gather intelligence on the deployment of Ukrainian units and military equipment in the area of Kruta Balka and Avdiivka.

To fulfill the terrorists' plot the informant had to bypass the Army's checkpoints and enter Ukraine-controlled territory.

The pro-Russian militants continue to attack the Army’s positions since 5 p.m., as the OSCE SMM representatives departed to their placement.

Over the past 24 hours, it was reported about 32 militants' attacks at the anti terrorist operation (ATO) forces' positions. 31 attacks were delivered in the Donetsk sector, Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.

According to the report, Avdiivka, Zaitseve, Pisky, and Maiorsk strongholds were shelled with 82-mm mortars.

The Russian militants shelled Avdiivka defenders with banned 120-mm mortars and 152-mm self-propelled guns. Troitske and Myronivskyi villages were fired from anti-aircraft guns. At the same time, Avdiivka, Troistske, Pisky, and Maiorsk strongholds were fired from grenade launchers and machine guns.

The militants' snipers attacked the ATO forces' positions near Triokhizbenka in the Luhansk region. The terrorists have also fired at Ukrainian strongholds at Opytne, Novhorodske, Luhanske, Krasnohorivka and Butovka mine, provoking them to fire back.In Mariupol direction observed silence mode.

U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt and his Canadian counterpart Roman Waschuk condemn an attack on LGBTI activists, who wanted to participate in the Lviv Equality Festival on March 19.

Lviv District Administrative Court passed a ruling to ban all LGBTI events in Lviv this weekend due to security reasons / boletimjuridico.publicacoesonline.com.br

"Bad news that Lviv Equality Festival was unable to proceed due to violent counter protests. Displays of intolerance in Lviv at odds with the European future so many Ukrainians have sacrificed for," Pyatt wrote on Twitter on Sunday, March 20.

Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk was also unhappy with the incident. "A strong state should have a monopoly on violence. This also applies to dealing with thugs threatening #LGBT events. #Lviv," he tweeted on Sunday.

Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin condemn the attack and informed that the police had begun an investigation in the incident.

"Tolerance & non-discrimination make Ukraine stronger. I condemn attack on #LGBTI activists in Lviv. Police [are] investigating the case," he wrote on Twitter......................

After an OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine completed its work in Donbas and left for the permanent base on Saturday, March 19, Russian proxies started shelling Ukrainian troops at 17:00 local time, having intensified fire, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters

Thirty-two attacks were recorded in the last day, the ATO HQ press center said, 31 of them were registered in the Donetsk sector alone.

"Militants used 82mm mortars to shell Ukrainian strongholds near the town of Avdiyivka and the villages of Pisky, Zaytseve, Mayorsk," the press center said.

Ukrainian troops deployed in Avdiyivka were also attacked by 120mm mortars and 152mm self-propelled artillery vehicles........

Russian-backed militants used anti-aircraft systems to shell Ukrainian military units in the villages of Myronivske and Troyitske, and grenade launchers and machine guns were used to attack Avdiyivka, Pisky, Troyitske and Mayorsk.

It was reported about losses suffered in the Avdiivka sector by the soldiers of the 11th separate motorized rifle regiment (Makiivka) of the 1st Army Corps (Donetsk) of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Six soldiers were killed and 11 were seriously injured on March 18-19. Serdyuk Evgeniy Aleksandrovich (born 1986) was identified among the dead.

Head of the Presidential Administration Borys Lozhkyn denies the possibility of appointing the heads of the occupied territories of Donbass Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov and leader of the faction "Opposition Bloc" in the Verkhovna Rada Yuriy Boyko. He said this in the air of the radio "Vesti".

"I have heard these rumors in the summer of 2014. I have no evidence that this is somehow true, no. I did not take never participate in the discussion of such plans nor in respect of one or against the other. Maybe someone -That wants to be so ", - he said.

"I think that is not met Minsk agreement, in principle, this scenario does not matter with what name, can not be implemented," - said Lozhkyn, reports "UNIAN" .

Earlier media reports citing sources in the presidential administration reported that nominations Akhmetov and Boyko are regarded as the leaders of "certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions." Ostensibly these candidates proposed to President Viktor Medvedchuk.

NATO air police for a second day over the Baltic Sea intercepts military aircraft of the Russian Federation. This was on his page on the social network Twitter reported the National Armed Forces of Latvia.

"Fighters air police on Friday and Saturday rose to intercept over the Baltic Sea not far from the border of Latvia Il-20 belonging to the armed forces of the Russian Federation", - said in a statement, reports "Ukrinform" .

Recall, the Russian warships and aircraft from the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, and the aggravation of relations between the West and Russia are increasingly close to the record of air and maritime borders of the Baltic States. In particular, NATO counted 250 Russian military aircraft interceptions.

In Spain, a passenger bus fell into a serious accident. According to preliminary reports 14 people were killed. According to the publication El Mundo, the accident happened in Catalonia about 6 am local time (7:00 Kyiv). The bus overturned after colliding with a car.

On board were 56 people, most of them - foreign students who have studied in college, "Erasmus" for the exchange. Among the injured are citizens of Switzerland, Norway, England, Turkey, Ukraine and the inhabitants of Barcelona. Age of victims - from 22 to 29 years.

In medical facilities, eight injured, four of them are in serious condition were taken. Those 14 are now trying to find out who died, according to "Channel 24" .

In Ukraine detained the suspect of involvement in the disappearance of lawyer George Grabowski, who represents the interests of the Russian Grushnik Alexander Alexandrov. This was announced by the chief military prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoly Matios.

According to him, the detainee is a citizen of Ukraine, "which used the forged documents of special services and law enforcement bodies", as well as documents in other people's names. Matios added that remaining involved in the disappearance Grabowski went beyond Ukraine.

The military prosecutor said that criminal proceedings were registered under the article "premeditated murder." He once again said that Grabowski did not leave the Ukraine, reports "Echo of Moscow" .

As reported, the lawyer Yuri Grabowski March 9 did not show up to a meeting of Holosiivskyi district court of Kyiv on the case of the detainees and Alexander Alexandrov Evgeny Erofeev. The Bar Association found that 5 March the lawyer was in Odessa, on the next day he returned to his office in Kiev, after which he was never seen again.

Seaman Murmansk Ivan Ore was killed during the capture of the ship «Bourbon Liberty 251" in the territorial waters of Nigeria, reports FlashNord, citing a source in the company shipowner Bourbon Company.

"Ivan was killed during the capture of the ship", - said the source.

However, he declined to specify why the information about it was transferred only at the moment.

Official confirmation of this information yet.

Pirates attacked the ship «Bourbon Liberty 251" on February 23 this year, most of the crew members managed to escape, but the hostages were a Russian citizen and a citizen of Nigeria.